Rapids Weekly Team Update

COMMERCE CITY CO (6/17/08) – The Colorado Rapids will train four days this week as they prepare to face off against the defending MLS champion Houston Dynamo this Saturday June 21 at 7:30 p.m. MT at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

The players were given Monday off and returned to the pitch Tuesday under the heat of the early afternoon. Most of the day’s session revolved around specially designed small-sided games devised by the coaching staff.

Rapids fans attending the club's training sessions might also have recognized a familiar face from the past who has been training with the club recently. Former midfielder Seth Trembly who played with Colorado from 2000-2004 and lives in the area has been keeping in shape and polishing his skills with the club.

For the full match preview of Saturday’s game featuring interactive projected lineups insider game notes head-to-head stats and the latest injury and suspension reports as well as a look at all the promotions surrounding the match click here!

Justin Hughes (groin) advanced his return to the field working with the other Rapids ‘keepers during Tuesday's training.

Herculez Gomez and Kosuke Kimura were removed from the Injury Report and looked to be back to full health.

Pablo Mastroeni was added as "Questionable" for Saturday’s match with a back injury that he suffered during the U.S. National Team’s 8-0 victory over Barbados last Sunday.

TODAY'S QUOTE FROM TRAINING

Today's quote comes from Head Coach Fernando Clavijo speaking about the Rapids’ loss to Toront

"We knew coming here to Toronto it was going to be a physical game we knew there was going to be a lot of emotions coming from the fans.

"I thought that the first 10 15 minutes we played extremely well but when you miss your chances in a situation that you are in Toronto you're going to pay the price.

"We made some tactical changes in the second half -- one-on-one with the goalkeeper again it could have changed the game and when you miss the chances you pay the price."

WEEKLY TEAM NOTES

Oh No Canada: Rapids defender Ugo Ihemelu was back on the training pitch with his teammates Tuesday and will be with the team for their Saturday contest against Houston as FIFA ruled over the weekend that he is ineligible to play for the Canadian Men’s National Team. Ihemelu earned a cap with the U.S. National Team on January 29 2006 vs. Norway and FIFA ruled that his sole appearance with the U.S. was enough to keep him here in the States. Pablo Mastroeni was also back in Commerce City today following his national team duties.

Building Blocks: While the MLS SuperDraft and Supplemental Drafts are never an exact science when making player selections the Rapids seem to be pushing all the right buttons on draft day. Seven of the team’s starting 11 for last week’s match against Toronto were former Colorado draft picks (Cummings DiRaimondo Harvey Kimura LaBrocca Peterson Zambrano). Two more starters last week Colin Clark and Stephen Keel were also discovered by the Rapids and signed to developmental contracts.

Rapids Youth Teams Update: The Rapids U-16 and U-18 teams will have mid-week matches with the U-18s facing DeAnza on Wednesday and the U-16s playing DeAnza on Thursday. Both sides will also prepare for Saturday contests versus Washington Premier and Cal Odyssey on Sunday. All matches for the U-16s and U-18s this week will be held at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. All youth team matches are open to the public; for more information call the Rapids Academy at 303-727-3575.

All-Star Voting: Colorado Rapids fans can vote for their favorite Rapids players to help make up the 11 players they would like to see take on English Premier League side West Ham United in the 2008 Pepsi MLS All-Star Game. Official online balloting is now open by clicking here.

The 13th annual MLS midsummer showcase will bring together the best MLS players for a marquee match-up on Thursday July 24 2008 at 5:00pm MT versus West Ham at BMO Field in Toronto. Fans can select up to one Rapids goalkeeper three Rapids defenders five Rapids midfielders and two Rapids forwards. Fans can vote up to 10 times per day.

4th Fest Colorad Tickets are selling fast for the Rapids’ annual July 4th game &amp; celebration presented jointly between the Rapids and Commerce City. Preceding the match between the Rapids and New York Red Bulls will be a festival on the stadium's field complex starting at 5pm featuring live bands kids’ activities a beer garden and interactive games for families and fans of all ages. Following the game will be Colorado's biggest and most explosive fireworks show in celebration of America's birthday. For tickets and all the information you need on all the events taking place during the event click here!